PA UC claim denied 3 times with same message - husband desperate for benefits
My husband has been trying to get his unemployment benefits for weeks now and keeps getting denied with the exact same message each time. This is the third denial letter that says the same thing but doesn't explain what's wrong! We've uploaded all the documents they asked for and answered every question on the form. The letters just say 'claim denied - insufficient information' but don't tell us WHAT information is missing?? He worked at his factory job for 5 years before they shut down in February, so we know he qualifies. We're getting really desperate as our savings are almost gone. Has anyone dealt with these vague denial letters? What did you do to finally get approved? The PA UC website is no help and calling is impossible.
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Diego Rojas
I went through something similar last month! The 'insufficient information' message usually means they couldn't verify something about his employment history or wages. Did your husband submit his final paystub from the factory? In my case, they needed proof that the company actually closed (I had to upload a news article about the closure). Also check if there's any open issue on his claim dashboard - sometimes that gives more details than the letters do.
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Chloe Martin
•Thanks for the response! Yes, he submitted all his paystubs and even his W2. I didn't think about proof of the closure - we can definitely find a news article since it was in the local paper. The dashboard just says 'claim under review' and has for weeks. So frustrating!
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Anastasia Sokolov
call them!!!!! u gotta keep calling like 100 times a day until u get through thats the ONLY way. nobody reads the online stuff they send trust me ive been on PA uc 3 times
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StarSeeker
•This is exactly right. I called 47 times last Tuesday before I got through. It's stupid but that's the PA system for you. Keep dialing!
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Sean O'Donnell
The 'insufficient information' error often indicates a wage verification issue. The PA UC system needs to confirm his base year wages match what the employer reported to the state. Three things you should do immediately: 1. File an appeal within 15 days of the most recent denial letter (very important - don't miss this deadline) 2. Upload a letter explaining the factory closure and including contact information for HR or his supervisor 3. Request your husband's wage records from PA UC (there's a form in the dashboard under 'Documents') An appeal will get your case in front of an actual examiner rather than just going through the automated system. Make sure to clearly state in the appeal that this is his third denial with the same message despite providing all requested information.
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Chloe Martin
•Thank you for this detailed help! We'll file the appeal today. I didn't realize there was a 15-day deadline - the most recent letter came 10 days ago so we're cutting it close. The wage record request is something we haven't tried yet. Do you know how long that typically takes to process?
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Zara Ahmed
I had the EXACT same problem when my restaurant closed down last year. Called for 3 weeks straight and couldn't get through. Then I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to a UC agent in about 20 minutes! They have this system that calls for you until it gets through, then calls you back when an agent is on the line. Literally saved my claim - turned out they needed one more document I didn't even know about. They have a video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2
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Chloe Martin
•This sounds like exactly what we need. After weeks of trying, I'm willing to try anything at this point. I'll check out the video. Did they explain what the problem was once you got through?
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Zara Ahmed
•Yes! Turns out they needed a specific form from my employer confirming the last day worked, even though I'd already uploaded my final pay stub. Once I knew what they actually needed, I got it sorted in a day. The confusion was that the online portal showed everything as 'received' but the agent could see notes that weren't visible to me. Worth every penny not to waste more weeks trying to figure it out.
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Luca Esposito
Everyone here is missing something important - if his factory shut down completely, he might qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits on top of regular UC. This is for workers whose jobs were affected by foreign trade/imports. The benefits are much better than regular UC. Has anyone at the CareerLink office mentioned this to him? They should have automatically screened him for this when the factory closed. But first things first - get the regular UC claim fixed by following the appeal advice above. Trade benefits come after that's established.
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Chloe Martin
•Oh wow, I had no idea about TAA! The factory did move production to Mexico, so that might apply. Nobody at CareerLink mentioned this at all when he registered. Thank you so much for bringing this up - we'll definitely look into it after getting the regular benefits sorted out.
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StarSeeker
The SAME THING happened to my neighbor and it turned out there was an identity verification issue that wasn't showing up on the dashboard. Check your husband's email spam folder for messages from ID.me or a PA UC identity verification request. Sometimes they send these and if you don't complete them within like 7 days, they just keep denying you without clearly explaining why. Good luck!
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Chloe Martin
•Just checked all his email folders and there's nothing from ID.me! But maybe it was sent and deleted? I'll have him log into the ID.me website directly to see if there's a pending verification. Thank you for this tip!
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Sean O'Donnell
Update on my earlier comment - if you're having trouble with the appeal or getting through on the phone, contact your state representative's office. They have dedicated staff who can intervene with the UC office on your behalf. I've seen many stuck claims suddenly get resolved once a state rep's office gets involved. Just search for "PA state representative [your zip code]" to find yours.
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Chloe Martin
•This is a great idea. I wouldn't have thought to contact our state rep. I'll try this along with the Claimyr service mentioned above. At this point we need to try everything as the bills are piling up. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!
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